Patient Highlights
Will I Have a Heart Attack or Stroke If I Take Testosterone Therapy?

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What Should I Do If I'm Already Using Testosterone Therapy? Should I Stop?

For men currently prescribed testosterone therapy, there is no clear reason to stop treatment based on these recent studies. How can you be sure testosterone therapy isn't dangerous for heart disease? Maybe your father died of a heart attack and you don't want to do anything risky. Although medical evidence shows that testosterone therapy is safe for most men, it would be prudent for you to discuss your concerns with your physician. Men with a family history of heart disease are at increased

What is Testosterone Deficiency?

Testosterone deficiency, also called hypogonadism, or more informally, low T, is a condition in which there is too little production of the hormone testosterone. This may occur for a variety of reasons, such as poorly functioning testicles or genetic issues. Rarely, growths or damage to the pituitary gland in the brain may cause low T.

How Would I Know If I Have Testosterone Deficiency?

Testosterone deficiency is usually diagnosed in men who have characteristic symptoms. Those symptoms can include reduced interest in sex, weaker erections,

What Did the Studies Show?

The first article was published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) in November 2013 [1]. It analyzed data obtained from men who had undergone cardiac catheterization for possible heart problems, and identified men with low levels of testosterone. Some of those men eventually received a prescription for testosterone, and others did not. The investigators looked back at several years of data on these groups to determine rates of heart attacks, strokes, and deaths. They

Is There Any Other Information on the Cardiovascular Risks of T Therapy?

Yes, plenty. Two previous studies have shown that men with low levels of testosterone who received treatment had a reduction in mortality by half compared with untreated men 3, 4. Numerous studies have shown that men with low levels of testosterone die sooner than men with normal T levels [5]. Placebo‐controlled studies have shown that men with congestive heart failure treated with testosterone were able to walk farther during testing than men who received placebo. Men with known coronary

If the Studies Linking T to Heart Problems Were So Weak, Why Did They Receive So Much Attention?

Unfortunately, there are many reasons why journal articles receive media attention, and it is not always on the strength of the science. Sensational headlines about risks of death or disease are always of interest, particularly when they are about a therapy (such as T) that many people are using or are interested in using.

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